Religion: Joe the Baptist

Ventriloquists' dummies are generally manipulated for cheers and
paychecks. The Rev. Loyd Corder, 37, of the Southern Baptists' Home
Mission Board, has been using ventriloquism since 1942, but his art and
his dummy, Joe the Baptist, are dedicated to religion.

Ventriloquist Corder and Joe average 70,000 miles a year, making the
rounds of Baptist churches and organization meetings in 19 states.
Among Baptist young folk, the large-eyed Joe is as popular as Charlie
McCarthy ever was. His master finds that the ventriloquist's dialogue
approach is a strikingly effective way of driving home his sermon
messages.